New Excuse for Dusty

by CubFaninNY on Jun 8, 2006 9:04 PM CDT

"We ran into a hot team, the Reds had won 7 straight, we can't be expected to stop their streak."

Wood is hurt, oh, wait, he wasn't pitching tonight.

We were watching Prior's Minor League Start.

We were trying to be aggressive with Arroyo.

We were worried he'd hit HRs off Rusch, so we gave them up to the 7,8 and leadoff hitters.

Hey! Griffey didn't hit one! (oh he didn't play? so what, we still kept him off the bases!)

We kept Adam Dunn in the yard, don't we get points for that?

We didn't get any walks, so we didn't clog up the basepaths, ain't that worth something?

We struck out 10 to their 4, that should help, no?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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question about clogging the bases.

I have noticed this reference to "clogging the basepaths" many times and was just wondering if this was something Dusty actually said. Did he?

Just hoping for .500 this year...

by coopergillan on Jun 8, 2006 10:09 PM CDT reply actions

Sadly,

yes.

by helen on Jun 8, 2006 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions

You wanted the answer to be no, yes?

Turns out Dusty is really that bad.

Also, he thinks that sabermetrics involves stabbing someone with a meter stick.

by CosmicCharlie911 on Jun 9, 2006 2:27 AM CDT up reply actions

If only

Dusty Baker knew as much about baseball as you, then surely the Cubs would be much better.

All will be fixed in 2006

by DSZ on Jun 9, 2006 6:51 AM CDT up reply actions

If only

Dusty realized he didn't know everything about baseball and spent some time learning about things he's unaware of, we'd be a better team. Yes, there are people who know things that Dusty doesn't.

Remember, Joe Morgan doesn't think that somebody who didn't play the game can teach him anything so he refuses to read their books. Dusty seems to fit in that category, bull headed, stubborn and sometimes ignorant. Maybe they'd be happy if we just burned all the books, it's not like they are usefull for anything anyway.

by pageian on Jun 9, 2006 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

See the difference is...

I'm not being paid 5 million to coach a team. And anyone will tell you that you need less knowledge to criticize than to actually do the job. If that wasn't the case, most music critics would write their own symphonies rather than critiquing others.

I played baseball through highschool, and I've watched religiously for years. I know plenty about the sport to be critical of Dusty.

I don't know how you couldn't be critical. Any manager that plays Neifi Perez (especially with pinch hitting) and inexplicably refuses to play Phil Nevin after signing him with no better options on the table. and eschews walks like the plague clearly has some strategical problems.

by CosmicCharlie911 on Jun 9, 2006 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Talent

Why doesn't anyone accept the fact there is little to no talent on this team? Not 1 position player on this team is the best player at his position. Only 1 or 2 are in the top 3. So Baker is an idiot for not having this team in first place? Please.

by wicubfan on Jun 9, 2006 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

Agree...

with you on the team's talent. My problem is the mental errors and lack of fundementals.

by timeforachange on Jun 9, 2006 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

We will agree to to disagree timefor

..I believe mental errors and bad fundamentals are characteristics of bad players, not bad managers.

by wicubfan on Jun 9, 2006 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Fundementals...

like bunting, hitting the cutoff man and other ABCs can be practiced. Look at what Guillen did with the Sox.

Also, the Cubs approach to the game is crap. They don't take pitches, ect.... That is Dusty's responsibility to teach his players the right way to play the game.

by timeforachange on Jun 9, 2006 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Like I said..

We'll agree to disagree..Dusty has a veteran ballclub. I doubt drilling them like a high school team will have much effect. Resonable people can disagree.

by wicubfan on Jun 9, 2006 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Here Here!

n/t

I went to Wrigley and all I got was this crappy "In Dusty We Trusty" shirt!

by timeforachange on Jun 9, 2006 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Example of bad managing

Mercker, a Lefty specialist, comes in to pitch. Who does Dusty send up to bat, not Nevin, but three struggling lefties in a row. Three singles hitters to boot!
Bynum
Pierre
Womack
is that stupid or what?
Why have Nevin on the team if you won't PH him late in the game, down a few runs, against a LEFTY?!

by CubFaninNY on Jun 9, 2006 1:59 PM CDT reply actions